DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS II 



The feeding of charcoal, salt, wood ashes, etc., may 

 supply the elements needed by the system and re- 

 lieve the condition. When a sow forms the habit of 

 eating her pigs, she should not be used for breeding 

 purposes. 



ACUTE INDIGESTION— ACUTE GASTRITIS 



Acute indigestion is not an uncommon disease of 

 hogs. It frequently occurs in swill-fed and fattening 

 hogs. 



Causes. — The common causes of irritation to the 

 stomach are overloading and eating spoiled foods, 

 especially putrid swills. Alkaline washing powders 

 and soaps in the swill, and the feeding of hog chol- 

 era medicine as a preventive for hog cholera, may ir- 

 ritate and inflame the stomach. Poor care and ex- 

 posure may also cause it. 



Symptoms. — The hog usually goes off by itself and 

 lies down in some quiet place, or stands with the back 

 arched and abdomen tense. Vomiting sometimes oc- 

 curs early in the attack. The animal is dull and 

 feverish, and is usually found lying down in the 

 litter around straw stacks and manure heaps, or ifl 

 the long grass and weeds. When disturbed, it will 

 grunt and show other evidence of abdominal pain. 



In severe cases the animal is quite feverish, and if 

 the intestines are irritated a diarrhoea occurs. This is 

 a frequent complication. 



When vomiting occurs early in the attack the ir- 

 ritating material is gotten rid of, and the course 

 of the disease is shortened. In most cases recovery 



